Improvement in clasps for fastening shoes



T. P, WEST. I

GIasps for Fastening Shoes. N0 148 864, PatentedMarch 24,1874.

UNITED STATES FFIGE.

PATENT IMPROVEMENT IN CLASPS FOR FASTENING SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 148,864, dated March 24, 1874; application filed January 9,1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Tnorms P. Wns'r, of YVakefield, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Clasp for Fastening Shoes, of which the following is a specification:

The object of this invention is to provide a means of securing or fastening shoes about the foot which shall possess strength, durability, and neatness; and consists in the employment of two barred plates or frames, a lip from one entering an orifice in the other, and being formed in a peculiar manner, as hereinafter explained, whereby the locking of the two together is effected, each plate being formed with two bars, about which the ends of the shoestraps are passed, substantially as explained hereafter, whereby the straps may be taken up or extended in length, and the ends held firmly in place without stitching or buckles.

The drawings accompanying this specification represent, in Figure 1, a perspective of a shoe containing my improvement, Fi 2 being a cross-section of a part of a shoe. Fig. 3 represents a face view of the two plates detached from the shoe. 4 is an edge view of the two plates detached, but not locked together.

In these drawings, A representsa shoe, of which B is the sole, 0 the upper, D the quarter, and E F the straps, of a shoe of ordinary manufacture.

In carrying out my improvement, I provide two thin metallic frames, G H, each of which is formed upon its outer edge with two intermediate longitudinal bars, a b. Each strap E or F is attached to one of the frames by pass- G, is formed with a longitudinal lip, d, which enters a corresponding orifice, 0, created in the opposite frame, H; and this lip is of peculiar construction-that is to say, it is formed with a longitudinal rib or elevation, f, which abuts against the outer edge of the inner side portion 9 of the frame H, and thus locks the two plates together by the pressure of the shoe about the foot. The inner edge of the lip d passes under the inner edge of the frame H, and rests upon a longitudinal bar, h, making part of the said frame H, and by which the clasp is stiffened and retained in a curved or arched form over the wearers instep, a short lip, it, being formed upon the extreme edge of the lip d to take hold of the bar 71. The corner or bend l of the lip (1 serves an important purpose in this clasp, as it exerts a leverage upon the bar h, and thus provides a turningpoint, by which the unfastening of the clasp is effected. The lip d is somewhat shorter than the body of the frame G, thus leaving a shoulder, 'i, at each end of the latter, and these shoulders abut against spurs or projeotionsj formed upon the under side of the frame H, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, by which means a turning-point, as it were, is obtained, which permits the two plates to be readily detached.

It will be seen that the lip (I is not pushed into the orifice beyond its legitimate position, and then drawn or allowed to slip back, but is inserted at once into its place, thus allowing a shoe to be fastened instantly and easily. If either strap becomes distended by wear it may be loosened, and its end drawn farther through the frame, or vice versa should the strap be too short.

My mode of attachment of the straps is very durable, as little wear results to them, while it is ornamental, as the ends of the straps are concealed from view.

I claim- A clasp or fastening for the straps of shoes, composed of the two plates G H, constructed and combined substantially as and for purposes stated.

THOS. P. WEST.

Witnesses:

F. GURTIs, W. E. BOARDMAN. 

